How Should Names Be

As there are many rights of children upon the parents (for example teaching Adab [etiquette], performing ‘Aqeeqah etc.), giving good names to children is also one of their responsibilities.

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘It is the right of a child upon his father to give him a good name.’ (Musnad Bazzaar, vol. 15, pp. 176, Hadees 8540)

Who should give name to a child?

Basically, the responsibility of giving name to a child lies on the father of the child. Sometimes this responsibility is transferred to any close relative for example grandmother, paternal aunt, paternal uncle etc., who usually do not have the Islamic knowledge and they give such names to children which have no meanings or the meanings do not sound good. So, consult the learned people before giving names to your children.

How should names be?

Respected parents! Perform your responsibility well by giving good names to your children. Which kinds of names are good and which are not good? In this regard, Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه said, ‘A good name is that which is not meaningless for example ‘Budhoa’ [بُدھوا], ‘Talwa’ [تَلوا] etc., [are the meaningless names]. The names should not have the meaning of pride and arrogance for example ‘Badshah’ [king], ‘Shahanshah’ [emperor] etc., and nor should the names have bad meanings such as ‘Aasi’ (sinful) etc. It is better that the names should be given after the blessed Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, blessed companions, Ahl-e-Bayt Athaar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم such as Ibraheem, Isma’eel, ‘Usman, ‘Ali, Hussain, Hasan etc.; similarly female children should be given names after the following personages: Aasiyah, Fatimah, ‘Aishah etc. One who gives the name ‘Muhammad’ to his son will be forgiven اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە and he will see the blessings of it in the world. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 5, pp. 30)

Do not give the names containing the meaning of pride

Respectable parents! Remember, according to Islamic teachings, it is forbidden to give such names to children which contain the meaning of pride. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘On the Day of Judgement, the person with the worst name in the sight of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is that who is named Malak-ul-Amlaak (i.e., the king of kings); Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ alone is the King. (Sahih Muslim, pp. 911, Hadees 5610)

People will be called by their names on the Day of Judgement

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘On the Day of Judgement you will be called by your names and the names of your fathers, so give yourselves good names.’ (Abu Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 374, Hadees 4984)

Those who name their children after any movie actor or non-Muslim مَعَاذَ اللّٰە should learn a lesson from this blessed Hadees. What will be more humiliating than this that the children of Muslims be called out by the names of non-Muslims on the plain of resurrection?

May Allah Almighty grant us Taufeeq to give good names [to our children] according to the Islamic teachings.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Note: Which names should be given to children? For more Shar’i guidance, read 179-page book ‘Naam Rakhnay kay Ahkam’, a publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah, Dawat-e-Islami.

After school, Zaid and Hamid were looking so happy when returning home in the school van. Having seen their happiness, Anees could not resist asking Hamid after all: ‘Brother! Can we also know the reason of your happiness?’

Hamid: Yes, we will also tell you.

Zaid: Anees! A competition was held in our class today, students took part in it.

Anees: So what is the matter of being happy in it? Competitions are usually held in the classes.

Hamid: But this competition was a unique one. First, listen to it completely then express yourself. It happened in this way that when the teacher completed teaching the lesson; he received a notification that read: ‘Take your next period in the same class.’

Anees: Oh, I see. Then what happened next?

Hamid: Teacher said: ‘As we have plenty of time today, so let’s do something new.’ So, the teacher divided the class into two groups named ‘Team Makki’ and ‘Team Madani’. Thereafter the teacher approached the board and wrote: ‘To ask a question is…’

Anees: What does it mean, I could not understand it?

Hamid: We also could not get it. So our teacher said: ‘This is an incomplete sentence; students of both groups will complete it.’

Anees: What was the response of the students?

Zaid: As soon as the teacher gave the opportunity to the students, Anas from team Makki stood and said: ‘I do not consider it necessary to ask question; one should consider it to be sufficient what is taught to him.’

From team Madani, Yasir said: ‘To ask a question is important because knowledge is treasure and question is its key so how can one discover the treasure without its key?’

Team Makki: ‘To ask a question is a waste of time for all.’

Team Madani: ‘Asking the important question is beneficial for all. So it is the good use of time.’

Similarly, different students expressed their opinions.

Anees: ‘What was the conclusion of this competition?’

Zaid: At the end of the competition, the teacher said while explaining the importance of the important questions:

1     By asking questions, two kinds of people gain the benefit, one who asks a question and those who are present there.

2     Asking questions increases one’s thinking ability and power.

3     The question represents one’s knowledge.

4     Asking question overcomes hesitation and one attains closeness to his teacher. Despite enormous importance of asking questions, students do not ask question nowadays. Perhaps not studying the relevant lesson beforehand is one of the reasons for it. If you would come to the class after reading your lesson beforehand, you will understand it well when a teacher will teach it to you. Moreover, if there will be any query then a question will rise in your mind.

Anees: It is really a matter of happiness. So the environment of the class would have become very good. Such types of competition are rarely held in which students get the opportunity to express their opinions.

Hamid: Another advantage of these competitions is that the thinking power of students increase and they gain the ability to think about a matter through different angles and discover new ideas. We all have made the intention that we will go to school after reading our daily lesson beforehand.

Anees: I will also go to school after reading my coming lessons beforehand.

Hamid: I have reached my destination now; we will talk further tomorrow, اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْکُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ وَ بَرَکَاتُەٗ.

Zaid and Anees: وَعَلَیْکُمُ السَّلَام وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ وَ بَرَکَاتُەٗ!